WRFL: Parkside moves through to Division 2 grand final

Parkside’s decision to hand a player his first senior game of the season paid off as the Magpies booked their place in the grand final as a star forward shone.

It’s a move which could have made Parkside coach Chris Muratore look very silly.

But it’s a decision which has the Magpies in the Western Region League Division 2 grand final.

Muratore and his coaching staff swung a major shock at the selection table when they named Joseph Jamieson for his first senior game of the season in Saturday’s preliminary final.

In Jamieson’s seven reserves games before then he had been named in the best five times.

He would go onto play a huge role on North Footscray star Sam Kater as the Magpies prevailed 9.20 (74) to 6.10 (46) at Braybrook’s Pennell Reserve.

Parkside’s Joseph Jamieson tackles North Footscray’s Samuel Kater. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“We brought him into do a job on their smalls who have had an impact the past few games against North,” Muratore said.

“If it didn’t work I would have had a gun to my head but I think Joe really limited Kater’s impact on the game. He halved so many contests all day.

“With the reserves having won straight through to the grand final, we thought he deserved a chance in the senior side based on his form.

“He was desperate at the contest. I think it was an attitude which flowed through the whole team.

“It was one of those games where everyone had moments, a really good balance across the team.”

Parkside’s Brent Kelly and Luke Vraca celebrate a goal. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Parkside almost kicked itself out of the contest in the first and third terms with a slight breeze to its back.

The Magpies, who finished the home-and-away season second on the ladder, kicked 2.7 and 2.4 in the opening and third terms respectively.

Goals on the first and third quarter sirens only added to Parkside’s pain.

“We like to make it a little harder at Parkside (with our goalkicking),” Muratore said with a laugh.

“Our goal was to keep everything pretty calm even when the game was level at three-quarter-time, I didn’t want to see the guys panic.

“Shaun Campbell was massive in the last quarter. We rotated him heavily throughout the day to save his legs for the last and he stepped up like good captains do.

“I haven’t seen anyone tagged as heavily as him and the attention he receives but he was brilliant.

Parkside’s Jonah Vraca takes a strong grab. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“I thought we were in control for most of the game and just couldn’t convert our opportunities at key times. We put four or five out on the full.

“Credit to North Footscray, they brought some great heat and I thought we were able to match it.”

Jackson Lesko was the man to make the most of his opportunities in an enthralling contest with Devils’ defender Matt Smith.

But it was Lesko who eventually had the last laugh with his side’s first and last goals of the day to finish with three for the afternoon.

“It’s a little bit like Glen Jakovich and Wayne Carey back in the day because they always seem to play on each other,” Muratore said.

“I thought it was a really good battle and Lesko probably got the better of it yesterday. His hands were brilliant.

“Other times this year, Smith has probably come out on top. To have eight shots on goal in a preliminary final is a massive effort.”

North Footscray’s Brandon Walsh celebrates a goal. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Brothers Jonah and Luke Vraca were also “super impressive” for the Magpies as they continued their brilliant seasons.

Nathan Montague and Mick Jubb also put together strong performances as Parkside set up a grand final date with Point Cook Centrals.

“We’ve got a free hit,” Muratore said.

“They’re a good side. Our goal at the start of the year was to give every opportunity to every player at our club to play in a grand final and we’ve done that.

“We’ve been grinding away for three years and we’re going to give ourselves the best shot of a premiership.”

The Division 2 grand final will be played at Yarraville next Saturday.